Process of matting or felting fibers together.



- any To all whom it may concern:

of wool and hair or Patented ril 26, 1904.

PAT NT OFFICE.

GUSTAV GOLDMAN, on. BALTIMORE,

I PROCESS OF MATTINGrOR FEM-me. FIBERS TOGETHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'Of Letters Patent No. 58,243, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed August 29, 1963. Serial No. 171,288. (No specimens) I Be it known that I, GUSTAV GOLDMAN, of

' Baltimore, Maryland, have invented a new and useful Processof Matting or Felting Fibers Together, which invention is fully set forth in the following. specificatiori.

This invention relates to the art of treating fibrous material for the purpose of uniting the fibers into amass.

The felting of wool and hair or of the admixture of these fibers with other animal and vegetable fibers is dependent upon the natural physical properties of wool and ,hair, although the resulting fabric is given a subsequent treatment with a liquid sizing to invest it with certain specific properties, such as stillness, hardness, or surface characteristics. Nevertheless felting processes in the present state of the art are inapplicable to fiber of vegetable or mineral origin unless wool and hair be introduced as the felting agent. There are many objections to the felting operation even the admixture of wool and hair with other fibers as they are now mannfactured',- among which may be mentioned the difliculty of producing a sheet or mass of uniform and even thickness throughout and of uniform structure;-but the most important considerationis the unavoidable and serious shrinkage invariably associated with present felting methods.

. The object of the presentinvention'is to provide a method of treating fibrous materials of character, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral or mixtures of these or anyeof'these, so as to produce asheet or mass of such fibers which shall cohere or be united togetherwith any desired degree of compactness and tenacity.

With this objectv in view the invention,

broadly stated, consists in the introduction between the fibers to be treated of any suitable binding material in a dryand finely-divided state, the binding material being of such character that in the presence ofza suitable solvent or as the result of subsequent treatment or dhemical reaction or by reason of its inherent {iroperties'it serves to bind the fibers together.

looseor flufiy condition when the .dry'fin'elyfibers thereof. This division. 4

it is not essential that the be applied to those terior surface or surfaces of the mass of fibers material is applied to or introduced between the fibers, and it is therefore able to uniformly penetrate or sift into the fibrous mass and come into contact with individual is due to the fact that at the time of its introdivided the binding material duction is in the form of powder or other. finely-divided state, whe'rebyit is enabled to be more uniformly applied and distributed, and to the further fact that at the time of its application or introduction it is in such condition that it does not adhere to the machincry or cause the material under treatment to adhere to the operating machinery. This conditionis herein described as a .dry conditionjand is meant to-include, any and all conditions of the binding material or materials which will permit it lor them to be introduced between the fibers in a finely-divided state, preferably as a powder or similar state offine While the powdered form of the binder is preferred in order that it may sift in between the fibers, this is not essential, as

the binder may be, if desired, and in some instances is finely divided into infinitesimally thin sheets orinto minute threads which are introduced between films or layers of the fibers or otherwise. I

From theforegoing description it will be evident that for the purposes of this invention should actually sift through the entire mass of the fibers under treatment. within the invention if the binding material fibers lying near the exunder treatment or if operates upon successive superimpose the binding material a-cor'nbi-ned felted mass.

The broad inventive idea may find expression in a great variety of forms. Thus the binding material may be either a single maso binding material ,7

It is equally d' films or sheets, so as to bind the fibers together into i terial or it may be a mixture of two or more materials; It may be a'material requiring the mechanical introduction ,of a'suitable solvent or the application of heat to place it in condition to bind the fibers together, or by reason of the inherent qualities of such binding material or materials a binding 'condition may be obtained 'ithout the mechanical introduction of the solvent. For example, dry dextrine may be'used as the binding material and moisture in the form of steam or vapor afterwar'd applied mechanically, or a binder, as gelatin or glue, may be applied together with ,a deliquescent substance, as magnesium chlorid, the moisture necessary to dissolve the binding materialbeing supplied through the agency of the deliquescent salt. Again, a binder, as starch, flour, &c., may be introduced together with a substance containing water a soluble soap, as soda-soap, and a salt of a suitable metal, as sulfate of zinc, may be introduced among the fibers separately or mixed together and subsequently treated, for

example, by steam, thus causing the metal of the salt to unite with the soap and form an insoluble metallic soap which will constitute a waterproof binder for the fibers. In this instance the soluble soap would itself constitute a binderrbut its value as a binding agent is inferior to that of the insoluble metallic soap resulting from the chemical reaction between the soluble soap and the metallic salt. Again, a binding materialas, for example, glue or gelatinmay be'introduced together with an appropriate substance having no functions as a binderas, for example, asalt of chrome or aluminiumbut which will render such binding material subsequently insoluble, and therefore waterproof.

From the foregoing it will be understood that generically stated the invention consists in introducing between the fibers a material in a dry pulverulent or other finely -divided form, which material subsequently, as the result of mechanical treatment or chemical reaction or otherwise, becomes an active and eflicient binding agent. The treatment.nec-' essary to render the material actively eflicient as a binding agent may consist in supplying a solvent in the form of steam, vapor, gas, or otherwise, depending upon the particular binder employed, or the solvent may be supplied by the use of a deliquescent or other hygroscopic salt or a substance containing water chemically held, or instead of supplying a solvent toany particular binding agent chemical reaction between a plurality of substances may be relied upon to supply the binder, or the material may be rendered aci tively efficient as a binding agent by mechanical treatmentas, for instance, by heat. The

. method of procedure which has given very satisfactory results is as follows: The fiber to be treatedsay cotton for example--is'disposed in a suitable film bythe carding-machine, and the appropriate binding material-for instance, ordinary gelatin or glue and magnesium ehloridare dusted between the fibers, preferably as they come from the cardingmachines, or between successive superimposed films. to heat and pressure, preferably in the presence of steam, and for mechanical convenience, continuity of operation, and economy of production the fabric into which. the appropriate binding material has been introduced,

- as hereinbefore indicated, is carried between heated rollers. The result of this treatment is to render the gelatin or glue capable of effectively binding the cotton into a felt or matted mass. 'VVith cotton fiber other binding substances may be used with equally'satisfactory results, and for wool or other animal fiber and for mineral or vegetable fiber different binding materials will naturally sug- The fibrous'material is then subjected gest themselves as more economical, convenient, and satisfactory, and the combination of the characteristicsof the fiber and of the binding material used will determine whether the active binding is to be accomplished by dissolving the binding material or by chemical reaction or by mechanical treatment or otherwise.

From the foregoingit will be perceived that the present/invention provides a method for efficiently binding any character of fibrous material into a compact mass, which method is readily practiced by the use of automatic. machinery or by hand, using cheap but highly effective binding materials, which may be easily and uniformly applied. This renders possible the economical productionof auniform product possessing in a high degree all those properties essential in padding and a great variety of other uses.

With many forms of binding material capable of use in practicing the invention the use of steam is extremely desirable if the very best results are to be secured, though the invention can be successfully practiced in a variety of forms without the use of steam. When steam is used, it may be either formed without "the mass of fibers and then forced or' caused to penetrate therethrough, or moisture maybe introduced among the fibers by means of a moisture-bearing substancea deliquescent or other hygroscopic substance, an efflorescent substance, or otherwiseand then the moisture converted into steam by supplying heat above 212 Fahrenheit, or, if desired,

.. supplied.

For the purpose of clearly demonstrating the character and scope of the invention generically several specific methods have been disclosed herein, some of which have not been specifically claimed, thoughthey are intended to be covered by the generic claims. These several specific methods not claimedherein will form the subject-matter of separate applications. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is r .1. The method of binding fibers together, which consists in introducing between the fibers a binding material or materials in dry form, and then treating said materials so as to make them an active binder. g

2. The method of binding fibers together which consists in introducing between the fibers a dry finely divided substance as a binder, and treating said finely-divided substance with another substance which will render it an active binder.

3. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introd ucing between the fibers a dry finely-divided binding material, and then treating. said binding material with a solvent thereof, whereby it is rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together. 7

4:. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between -the fibers a dryfinely-divided binding material, and then treating said binding material with a solventthereof', whereby it. is rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then driving off the solvent.

5. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material, which consists in introducing betweenthe fibers a dry finely-divided binding material together with a substance capable of imparting moisture to said binding material, whereby it is rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together.

6. The method of treating-fibers or fibrous;

' rial together with a hygroscopic substance,

whereby moisture-will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capabio of actively binding the fibers together.

8; The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers a dry finely-divided binding material together with a hygroscopic substance,

whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then driving off the moisture.

9. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducingbetween the fibers a dry finely-divided binding'material together with a deliquescent substance, whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together.

10. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers a dry finely-divided binding material together with a deliquescent substance,

whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of actively bindingthe fibers together, andthen driving ofi the moisture.

11. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introd ucing between the fibers dry. finely-divided gelatin together with a hygroscopic material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together.

12. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introd ucing between the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with a deliquescent .material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together.

13. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry'finely-divided gelatin together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of binding the fibers together. A

14. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material, treating said binding material with a solvent thereof, and then subjecting the fibers tOpressure.

15. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists inintroducing between thefibers dry finely-divided binding material, treating said binding material with a solvent thereof, and then subjecting the fibers to heat and pressure.

' 16. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducingbetween the fibers dry-finely divided binding material IIO toge ther with a substance capable of imparting moisture to said binding material and then subjecting the fibers to pressure.

17. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with a substance capable of imparting moisture to said binding material, and then subjecting the fibers to heat and pressure.

18. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with a hygroscopic substance, whereby moisture will be imparted tosaid bindings material and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting said fibers to pressure.

19. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely divided binding material together with a hygroscopic substance,whereby moisture will be imparted to said binding material and it will be rendered capable of. actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting said fibers to heat and pressure.

20. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely -divided binding material together with a deliquescent substance,whereby moisture will be imparted to said binding material and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting said fibers to pressure. I

21. The method of treatingfibers or fibrous material which consists in introd ucing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with a deliquescent substance,whereby moisture will be imparted to said binding material and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, "and then subjecting said fibers to heat and pressure.

22. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with a hygroscopic material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to pressure. r

23. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely divided gelatin together with a hygroscopic material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to heat and pressure.

24. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with a deliquescent material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to pressure. Y

25. The method of treating fibers or fibrous the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with a deliquescent material, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of actively binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to heat and pressure. I

' 26. The methodof treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of binding the fibers together.

27. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to pressure.

28. The method of.treating material which consists inintrod ucing between the fibers dry finely-divided binding material together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the binding material and it will be rendered capable of binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to heat and pressure.

29. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be rendered capable of binding the fibers together, and then subjecting the fibers to pressure.

30. The method of treating fibers or fibrous material which consists in introducing between the fibers dry finely-divided gelatin together with magnesium chlorid, whereby moisture will be imparted to the gelatin and it will be GUSTAV GOLDMAN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR LEE BROWNE,

FRANCIS T. HOMER.

rendered capable of binding the fibers to-.'

material which consists in introducing between fibers or fibrous 

